AMERICA ABROAD -- JANUARY 2012

Anchor: Ray Suarez

America and the Middle East: What Lies Ahead

Today, the Middle East is at a crossroads. And so is American policy in the region. Last December, after 9 years of war, US troops left Iraq - probably for good. The war in Afghanistan is winding down too - as American soldiers begin to transfer authority to Afghan forces. And as the Arab revolutions rippled across the region over the past year, toppling the old order, America largely looked on from the sidelines. On top of it all, in light of the financial crisis, Americans are increasingly focused inward – on jobs and the economy. So what will the future of American policy in the Middle East look like?